For centuries the Church Fathers have wondered how to convert people. How to bring them to Christ? In the past physical force seemed to be the most effective way of evangelisation. Thankfully, the mentality has changed and such methods are no longer either acceptable or effective. But the struggle continues.
What I have found out during my "mature" Christian life is that fancy methods don't work. It's like a rather poor marketing strategy. You can have colourful billboards, loud commercials and a catchy soundtrack, but people are not stupid and will realise that what you try to sell them is not all pink and fluffy.
Christianity is not pink and fluffy. Frankly, it's one of the least pink and fluffy things that I know. But what it gives is the hope of internal life, indeed, a certainty of it. But it's hard. The world is not helping. So we can try to attract people by modern songs (to make it more entertaining), short liturgy (who has time these days for sitting in the Church?), loosening the requirements of the Decalogue (people do not like to be challenged) and making sure there is nothing controversial about the Church or its teaching.
This will not work though. Not at all. Because it's not convincing at all. What is convincing is ordinary Christians living good lives each day. It's more convincing because it's real and very practical. And you can see it straight away. Their faith is shining through all that they do. It's wonderful. It's uplifting. It's so ordinary.
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